Some students enter Grossmont with a fifth-grade reading level, so the English class helps build their reading comprehension skills. The college and career success course that students take provides instruction about personal responsibility, self esteem, time management, note taking and career planning.

“When we interview them, we let them know upfront it will require a lot of dedication because there is a lot of homework,” Lopez said. “In six weeks you are putting in six units of work.”

Bryan Spencer, the counselor heading the SDSU program, said about 320 students applied for the bridge program this year. He said the program keeps students busy with classes, tutoring sessions, group activities and social outings, including trips to theaters and museums.

“This is a transitional program to retain them not just through the first year, but to get them to graduation,” Spencer said. He said students who enter the program tend to take more units than average students, have higher GPAs and are less likely to be on academic probation.

For Perez, the biggest lesson after the initial week at SDSU was getting used to long days on campus that ended with him hitting the books in the dorm at night.

“You have to persevere through the day. I feel like I’m building stamina,” he said. “This is the wake-up call beforehand so we don’t mess up in the real fall semester.”